Knitting-machine



(No Mbdel.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. BENNOR.

v KNITTING MACHINE. No; 485,316. Patented Nov. 1, 1892.

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2 t e e h S m e e h S 5 H m E m N mm Bm .T H N K (No Model.)

Patented Nov. 1, 1892.

THE NORRIS Pfliks on PHOTO-LIYNCL. vusumsmm o. r.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. BENNOR.

KNITTING MACHINE. No. 485,316. Patented Nov. 1,1892.

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No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. BENNOR.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 1,1892.

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PETERS cu. Pno'rournm wAsHmmu. n. c.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

J. BENNOR. KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 485,316. Patented Nov. 1,1892.

. INVENTOI'? WITNESSES partial side elevation thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BENNOR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

KN lTTlNG-MACH I N E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,316, dated November1, 1892.

Application filed March 17, 1892. Serial No. 425.286- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOSEPH BENNoE, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a machine embodying my improvements.Fig. 2 is a Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations ofone set of needle-operating cams and their supporting parts, theknitting-cams being represented in the down and intermediate positions,respectively. Fig. 6 is an end View of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a transversesection on the line 1 2 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an elevation of thecarriage upon which the cams are supported, the latter being indicatedby the dotted lines, as in the raised or inactive position. In this viewthere are also represented the stop devices for operating the slidingsafetycam. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the yarnguide devices and theirsupporting parts, the beveled end plate for laterally moving theguide-heads being shown. Fig. 10 is a plan of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is atransverse section, as on the line 2 3 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is anelevation of the yarn-takeup devices omitted from Fig. 2. Fig. 13 is anend view of a yarncheck device hereinafter referred to.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that type ofknitting-machines in which fiat needle-beds are employed such, forexample, as the machine disclosed in my assigned Letters Patent of theUnited States No. 440,389, dated November 11, 1890, to which referencemay be had.

The nature of these improvements will be more clearly understood fromthe following specification and claims.

As the general organization and co-operation of the leading parts of themachine illustrated in the annexed drawings are practically identicalwith the corresponding parts of my previously-patented machine,it willbe unnecessary to describe herein such parts minutely and in detail.WhileI shall therefore merely refer incidentally to those things thatare known, I shall specifically set forth and illustrate my presentimprovements thereon.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the framework, and F the maindriving-shaft, of the machine. loosely on one end of this shaft, and M ameasuring or pattern chain borne by said wheel. An intermittent rotarymotion is imparted to the latter by means of a cam-actuatedpawl-and-ratchet mechanism, as described in my aforementionedpatent-that is to say, a grooved-face cam Z is secured fast to theshaft, a ratchet-wheel Z is affixed concentrically to one side of thesprocket-wheel, and the pivoted pawlsupporting arm Z is engaged with thecam-groove by means of a stud or block Z. In order to provide for theadjustment of the sprocket-wheel in respect to the ratchet-wheel, so asto permit of the accurate setting of the pattern-chain, I conmeet thetwo wheels by means of a screw 1, the hole 2 for which in thesprocket-wheel is elongated. (See Fig. 1.)

n represents the vertical arms, upon which are supported the blocks of,that are designed to be moved at predetermined intervals into and out ofthe path of the longitudinal slide-bar d of the knitting-cams,in orderto control the action of the latter, and 0 represents a longitudinalshaft, which is mounted in the end heads of the main frame, and isprovided on one end with the yoke of a clutch device that is adapted tocontrol the action of gear mechanism on a vertical shaft 1, whereby thehorizontal shaft 0, upon which the needle-actuating fingers 0 aremounted, may be thrown into and out of operation at prescribedintervals.

In my previous construction the arms n were supported upon two parallelrock-shafts extending lengthwise of the machine, one of which shafts wasprojected beyond a head of the supporting-frame and provided with adepending arm that bore upon the links of the pattern-chain, the actionof the links upon this arm effecting, through the intermediateconnections, the requisite movements of the end blocks. One end of theshaft 0 was also provided with a similar depending arm that bore in likemanner upon the links, which links actuated said latter arm to ef- L isa sprocket-wheel mounted fect the operation of the clutch mechanism.

The two depending arms rested side by side upon a single link of thechain, and hence their Wearing action upon the chain was very great.Besides, there was no provision whereby the throw of the arms could beadjusted from time to time to compensate for the wear. In my presentconstruction, however, these objections are obviated as follows: Theblocksupporting arms n are fulcrumed on the end head of the framework,one of said arms being extended belowits fulcrum to constitute, ineffect, the shorter member 3 of a'lever.

Pivoted at a suitable pointon said end head is a vertical arm 4, whichis provided on one edge with a projection 5, that bears against a sidelink of the chain. The free end of this arm 4 extends beyond the edge ofthe member 3, which latter is provided with a setscrew 6, that bearsagainst the end of the arm 4. The vertical arms a are connected by meansof a rod 72 and are maintained in a normal position by means of a springof, as in my former construction. The tendency of the spring is to forcethe screw-provided member against the end of the arm 4:,whereby when thelatter is actuated by the various links of the chain a correspondingaction is imparted to the block-supporting arms. The depending arm 0 onthe end of the clutchbearing shaft 0 is also equipped with a setscrew 7,that bears against the arm 4. Thus said shaft is operated by the lattersimultaneously with the block-supporting arms. By the interposition ofthe arm 4 there is a single bearing action upon the links of the chain,and therefore the wearing effect on such links is uniform. The bearingaction is obviously much less than that incident to my previousconstruction in view of the system of leverage just explained. Byproperly manipulating the set-screws the arms to which they are appliedmay be minutely adjusted in order to compensate for wear, as abovementioned. The blocks n are of the same form as those used in the othercase-that is to say, they are provided with steps or offsets whereby thestroke of the slide-bar d above referred to may be varied as desired incertain stages of the knitting operation. This bar is connected with thetransverse slideplate dflupon which the needle-actuating cams D aremounted, said plate being contained in the reciprocating cam frame orcarriageml. The connection of the bar with the plate in order to permitof the transverse sliding of the latter has not been altered, thediagonal slots d and pins d being retained for this purpose. Theconstruction of the carriage, however, has been essentially modified,the same, among other things, being made in two sections instead of asingle piece, as formerly. One of these sections (marked 8) supports onits under face the cam-bearing plate (1 which latter rests upon theneedle-bed. The other section (marked 9) is let into a transverseguideway in the upper face of the section 8 and is provided on its inneredge with posts or arms 10, through which extends a longitudinal rod orbar 11, fixed to suitable brackets 12 on the respective end heads of themain supporting-frame. There are two of these rods, one above eachneedle-bed, and the upper sections of the two cam-carriages arerespectively connected therewith in the manner just described. Thus therods guide the carriages in their longitudinal traverse, thesecarriages, as in the original construction, being coupled by means of ayoke or saddle (1 with which is connected by a pitman a crankwheel '6 onthe vertical end shaft I.

The lower section 8 of each cam-carriage is so conjoined with the uppersection that the former section may be adjusted transversely withrespect to the latter in order to vary the position of the cams inrespect to the throat of the machine, and as a consequence change thethrow of the needles and the size of the stitches formed thereby. Theconnection comprises an eccentric 13 let into the upper section andfastened to the lower section by means of a screw-pin 14', thiseccentric being furnished with a flange or disk 15, that rests upon theface of the upper section. When the disk is turned, the eccentric willcause this under section to be moved transversely in respect to theupper or fixed section. Said disk is provided with a concentric slot 16,through which extends a set-screw 17, which engages the latter section.By tightening this screw the disk may be fixed in any predeterminedposition of adjustment. The face of the disk is graduated to a properscale and the adjacent face of the section is provided with asuitably-located arrow-head or pointer, whereby the movement of the diskand perforce the range of throw of the cams may be accuratelydetermined.

The needle-actuating cams D, which are mounted upon the slide-plate d,as above described, differ in some respects from those originally usedby me. In the first instance the side or wing cams d were pivoted, andthe needle-controlling cam d was a single bar fixed below the same. Theside cams were pivoted in order automatically to close the lower gap,through which the depressed needles escaped during the knittingoperation. The acting edges of these side cams when engaged by theneedles were therefore moved out to a com paratively-small angle, byreason of which I found the needles were not depressed with thatqnickness necessary to insure altogether satisfactory results. Toovercome this objection, I now fix said. side cams permanently at thedesired angles and make the lower needle-controlling cam in two parts,as clearly shown. The inner or adjacent ends of these parts are pivoted,as at at, and a small com pression-spring p is suitably interposedbetween the same, whereby the beveled outer ends of the parts arepressed against the lower ends of the side cams. These beveled ends aredepressed by the needles as the latter leave the knitting-cams; but suchends immediately reclose the gaps when the needles have escapedtherefrom.

The under sectionSof each cam-carriage is provided with a slidingsafety-cam (W, the general action and position of which relative to theneedle-controlling cams are the same as in my previously-patentedconstruction, excepting, however, that in this case the safety-cam thattraverses the bed B, in which the fin ger-controlled needles arecontained, is

actuated by a positively-operated lever device, instead of by frictionalcontact with the needle-bed, as in the other case. A positive action ofthis safety-cam is desirable in View of the fact that the knitting-camswhich traverse the needle-bed B are caused to actuate the needles ineach stroke of the reciprocating cams during certain stages of theknitting operation-to wit, while forming the heel and toe parts of thestocking. The knittingcams on the other bed are in action during onestroke only of each reciprocation (two strokes)-that is, they simply actin one line of traverse-and hence a frictional action of the safety-camon this bed is all-sufficient. No illustration of the frictionalconstruction is necessary herein, as the same is very fully set out inmy patent above referred to. In the figures on Sheet 4 of the annexeddrawings there are represented the cam devices that traverse theneedle-bed B, the lever for operating the safety-cam being indicated bythe numeral 18. This lever is pivoted in an offset on the under side ofthe adjustable carriage-section, one arm of the lever extending into arecess in a tongue on the safety-cam and the other arm thereofprojecting outwardly beyond the edge of said section. Thus when saidprojecting arm is oscillated this safety-cam is reciprocated. Fixed atsuitable points on the bed B of the machineare two stop devices 19 20,against which the arm abuts at or near the end of the respective strokesof the cam-carriage, said devices thereupon operating the lever, andperforce the safetycam. One of these stop devices 19 is fixed orunyielding, while the other device 20 is springcontrolled, so as toyield under pressure. The fixed stop is simply a circular headeccentrically fastened to the bed by means of a screw, whereby the edgeof the head may be nicely set in a position to effect the requisiteaction upon the lever 18. The other stop is a pin fitted longitudinallyto a perforated block or case 21, which is permanently fastened to thebed, the head of this pin being projected by a suitably-acting spring22, contained in the said block or case. This spring controlled stop isemployed in order to accommodate the varying positions of the leverunder certain conditions hereinafter described. It will be observed thatthe upprojecting ends of the safety-cam are provided on their inner edgewith stepsx y z, the leading end thereof having two stepsoc y and theopposite end one step c, which is in line with the first step of theformer. When the knitting-cams are in the down position,the lower edgesof the parts of the needle-controlling cam d are in the same plane asthe steps w 2, so that when the safety-cam is reciprocated these stepsalternately engage the respective outer ends of the needle-controllingcam, and in that way close the intervening gap or gaps. When the stepabuts against the advancing part of the needle-controlling cam, it lockssuch part steadily in position. During the knitting of the heel and toethe double clos ing action just described is requisite in view of thefact that the cams work back and forth, as above mentioned. Duringtheknitting of the foot and the leg, however, only the leading end ofthe safety-cam is useful, as in that stroke the knitting-cams are downor active, while in the reverse stroke they are elevated or inactive.

When the knitting-cams are in the intermediate position into which theyare thrown at the outstart of the operation, the second step y 011 thesafety-cam is brought into play. This step is needed only on one end ofthe cam in view of the fact that the knittingcams make but a singlestroke while they are in this intermediate position. It will be seenthat a single movement of the lever is required to bring the single-stepend of the safety-cam up against the adjacent end of theneedle-controlling cam. Consequently the fixed stop 19 is employed toeffect this movement. It will also be seen that a double movement of thelever is required to bring the double-step end of the safety-cam upagainst the end of the needle-controlling cam at the proper periods.Hence the yielding stop-pin is employed. The normal position of the pinis such that when the lever 18 abut-s against the same (when theknitting-cams are in the intermediate state) the upper step on thesafety-cam is brought up against the end of the needle-controlling cam.When, however, the cams are in the down position, the throw of thesafety-cam to bring its lower step into action is less than thatrequired when the cams were in the intermediate position just described,and hence the spring-pin yields to the impact of the abutting lever. Thepin naturally resumes its normal position when the pressure of the leveris removed therefrom upon the reversal of the stroke of thecam-carriage.

I have considerably modified the construction of the yarn-guide devicesto secure certain advantages hereinafter pointed out.

P P represent a pair of parallel bars disposed longitudinally above thethroat of the machine and supported at their extremities by the endbrackets 12. Fitted to each of these bars is a slide-block 19 to theouter face of which is secured a plate 19 The upper edge of this plateis provided with two vertical projections or fingers 19 13 whosefunctions will hereinafter appear. Pivoted at a point 00 a: 0n the underside of each of the slide-blocks is one end of an arm 23, the oppositeor free end of which is provided on its lower side with a stud or roller24:- The arm is pressed toward the median line of the machine by meansof a spring 25, which is interposed between the arm and adependingtongue or rib 26 on the outer side of the slide-block. Fixed tothis arm is a depending rod 27, which carries on its lower end ayarn-guide 19 The latter is a narrow head pointed or tapered, preferablytoward both ends, and provided with a laterally-projecting lug 28, towhich the rod 27 is secured. This block is perforated centrally for thepassage of the yarn, and it lies normally just above the median line ofthe machine, so that as the block is reciprocated ,conccrtedly with theknittingcam the yarn is delivered to the needles. The pointed ends ofthe head, in its movements to and fro, will not only retain the latchesof the upthrown needles in the open position, but will fully open anylatches that may not have been completely thrown open by thelatch-opening plates, Fig. 1. This yarn-guide thus performs the functionof the V-shaped latch-controller previously used by me, and enables meto dispense with the latter. Secured to the under side of the bars P P,near that end of the machine at which the pattern mechanism is located,is a block 29, which is equipped with a plate 30, having its sidesforwardly beveled, as illustrated. These beveled portions extendslightly beyond the limit of the advancing stroke of the yarn-guidedevices in such manner that the studs or rollers on the pivoted armsabut against said beveled portions, and thus deflect the guideheads 19from the central line of the machine. It will therefore be clear that,as only one of these heads is in action at a time, the path of theactive head is not obstructed by the inactive one. (Sce Fig. 9.)

The mechanism for reciprocating the yarnguide devices does not differmaterially from that previously used by me. Mounted in and between thesides of the yoke d is a transverse shaft 31, near the ends of which arefixed a lever P and an arm P", respectively. One arm 32 of the lever isprovided with an outwardly-projecting stud 19 while its other arm isprovided with an inwardly-projecting stud p The arm P is also providedwith an inwardly-projecting stud p The stud on the lever-arm 32 is inline with the bifurcated end of the pivoted arm 19, which latter isactuated from the chain-links by means of a vertical lever engaged witha cam-slot p in the arm p The construction and operation of the latterare practically identical in all respects with those of my formerdevices, and hence they require no special description in thisconnection. The inprojecting studs 10 during the reciprocation of thecamcarriage move in respect to the lateral plates on the slide-blocks 13respectively. By this construction it will be seen that theoutprojecting pin 10 on the lever P will at the end of eachreciprocation of the cam-carriage engage the V-shaped portion of the armp and the latter, according to its position, will thereupon move thelever into a position to cause the inprojecting pins 19 p to bealternately engaged with and disengaged from the shouldered side plates,the actions being under the control of the pattern-chainthat is to say,when the lever is inclined in one direction the inprojecting stud on oneof the arms will lie in the space or recess between the shoulders of theadjacent side plate, while the like stud on the other arm will be abovethe plane of the space or recess in the other plate, and when the leveris inclined in the opposite direction the relative positions (active andinactive) of said inprojecting studs will be reversed. Hence when thesaid lever is inclined, as shown in Fig. 2, the inprojecting stud pthereon will, as the lever is retracted from the end of the arm p abutagainst the opposed shoulder 19 on the contiguous side plate, and thusmove the latter and its 0011- nected yarn-guide device in concert withthe knitting-cams. In this operation the other yarn-guide will remain inengagement with the beveled end plate-that is, it will not be broughtinto action. The other shoulder 19 on the side plate of the activeyarn-guide device projects above the plane of the shaft 31, so that whenthe cam-carriage makes the reverse strokes this shaft Will abut againstsaid latter shoulder, and thus draw the yarn-guide devices backward. Thepivoted arm of such devices will at the end of this stroke be engagedwith the beveled end plate 30, as and for the purpose above stated. Theshaft presents a solid abutment to the shoulder 19*, and thus insures apositive action of the pivoted arm upon the beveled plate. Upon thelever being inclined in an opposite direction to that just mentioned bythe action of the V-shaped end of the arm 19 the stud 19 will be movedupward to release the active yarn-guide device, and the stud 19" will atthe same time be moved down between the shoulders on the side plate ofthe other or inactive yarnguide. This stud during the followingreciprocation of the cam-carriage will alternately impinge against thesaid shoulders, and thus move the connected yarn-guide to and fro. Inthis case, owing to the location of the stud p in respect to the shaft,the latter in the back-stroke of the cam-carriage does not act upon theshoulder 19 as in the other instance previously described. The purposeof the extended space between the shoulders on the respective sideplates is.to occasion sufiicient lost motion at the end of each strokeof the yarn-guide devices to bring the latter into proper time orposition relative to the knitting-cams.

The stop-motion in its construction and operation is substantially thesame as that fully set out in my previous patent. I have, however,secured to the vertical rod which supports the yarn-take-up levers i aninwardlyextending arm 33, on the free end of which is a cross-bar 34This bar has attached thereto at suitable intervals the lower ends oftwo pairs of fingers 35, preferably of porcelain or vitrified material,the upper ends of each pair being inclined toward and in close contactwith each other. In this way two A-shaped openings 36, Fig. 13, areformed. The fingers are fastened to the bar 34 by means of setscrews 37,so that the fingers may be relatively adjusted, as occasion may require,to compensate for the wear of their contiguous points.

The inner ends of the take-up-levers are bent downward forwardly ofthese openings and are provided with eyes The yarns on their way fromthe bobbins to the yarn-guides are passed through the openings 36 andthrough the eyes 25 respectively. They are preferably passed overproperlysupported frictional drags s, of textile material or the like,located in advance of the openings.

When the machine is in operation, that yarn which is being consumedwill, as it is delivered to and carried beyond the needles, draw downthe end of the take-up lever through uwhich it passes, the yarn thusplaying freely the yarn is drawn out beyond the needles by theyarn-guide, which drawn-out portion is taken up in the reverse stroke ofthe cams by the automatic raising of the inner arm of the lever. In thisupward movement the yarn is drawn into the point or apex of the openingand held therein by friction. Then the yarn is delivered to the needlesin this stroke, the said arm is drawn down by the tension of the yarn,and the latter is perforce freed from the apex of the opening. Thisoperation is repeated at the initial movements of the successive strokesof the knitting-cams.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and wish to secure byLetters Patent- 1. The combination, with the pattern mechanism, theblock-bearing arms, and means for maintaining said arms in a normalposition, of the pivoted arm or lever 4, interposed between said patternmechanism and the block bearing arms, the free end of said pivoted armor lever acting upon the blockbearing arms, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the pattern mechanism, the block-bearing arms,and means for maintaining said arms in a normal position, of the pivotedarm or lever 4, interposed between said pattern mechanism and theblockbearing arms, the free end of said pivoted arm or lever acting uponthe block-bearing arms, together with the set screw on the lower end ofone of said latter arms, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the pattern mechanism, the clutch-operatingshaft, and the arm on the latter, of the pivoted arm or lever 4,interposed between the said pattern mechanism and the former arm,substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with the pattern mechanism, the clutch-operatingshaft, and the arm on the latter, of the pivoted arm or lever 4,interposed between the said pattern mechanism and the former arm,together with the set-screw on the end of the latter, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, with the pattern mechanism, the block-bearin g arms,and means for maintaining them in a normal position, and theclutch-operating shaft and its end arm, of the pivoted arm or. leverengaging the pattern mechanism and acting upon one of the blockbearingarms and the said end arm, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the knitting-cams, the sectional carriagetherefor, and devices adapted to guide the carriage in its longitudinaltraverse, one of the sections of the carriage supporting theknitting-cams and being movable transversely in respect to the othersection and the latter being confined to a longitudinal path, togetherwith means for the transverse adj ustment of the cam-supporting section,substantially as described.

7. The combination of the sectional carriage and its guiding andoperating devices, of the knittingcams on the lower section of thecarriage, the eccentric in one of said sections, and means forconnecting said eccentric with the other section, together with devicesfor locking said eccentric in positions of adjustment, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination, with the knitting-cams and their supporting parts,of a needle-controlling cam pivotally mounted below sa d cams and aspring tending to press the said needle-controlling cam in contact withthe lower end of one of the lateral knitting-cams, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination, with the knitting-cams and their supporting parts,of the needle-controlling cam formed in sections pivotally mounted belowsaid cams and a spring tending to press the said sections in contactwith lower ends of the lateral knitting-cams, substantially asdescribed.

10. The combination,with the knitting-cams and their supporting parts,of a needle-controlling cam pivotally mounted below said cams and aspring tending to press the said needle-controlling cam in contact withthe lower end of one of the lateral knitting-cams, together with thesliding safety-cam disposed below the said needle-controlling cam,substantially as described.

ll. The combination of the transverse slideplate and means forsupporting and actuating the same, the knitting and needle-controllingcams mounted upon said plate, and the sliding safety-cam supported belowsaid cams and provided with the end steps, substantially as described.

12. The combination of the transverse slideplate and means forsupporting and actuating the same, the knitting and needle-controllingoperate the same, together with the end stops to actuate said lever, oneof these stops being yielding longitudinally, substantially asdescribed.

14:. The combination of the slide-block or carrier and its supportingand operating parts, of the yarn guide, means whereby it is connectedwith said block or carrier, and provisions whereby said guide isdeflected from its direct path'at the end of each reciprocation of theslide block or carrier, substantially as described.

15. The combination of the slide-block or carrier, the supporting bartherefor, the spring-controlled arm mounted on said block, and theyarn-guide head depending from said arm, together with means forlaterally deflecting said head from its direct path at the end of eachreciprocation of the slide block or carrier, substantially as described.

16. The herein described yarn -gliide and latch controller for straightknitting machines, said guide comprising a centrally-perforatedend-pointed head provided with the lateral lug at its upper end and withthe se- V curing-rod projecting from said lug, substantially asdescribed.

17. The combination, with the needle-beds, the needles, and theknitting-cams, of the slide-blocks or carriers mounted above the needlesin the respective beds, the longitudinal guide devices for said blocksor carriers, thelaterally-movable yarn-guides connected with the latter,so as normally to be in line with each other longitudinally, and the enddevice adapted to defiect said yarn-guide lating witnesses.

JOSEPH BENNOR. Witnesses:

GEO. W. REED, OLEM. WV. BECK.

